NEW YORK — (BUSINESS WIRE) — April 20, 2011 —
Appleâ€™s iPad commanded 85% of the market for media tablets in 2010,
according to full-year figures reported by ABI Research. The tablet
market surged in the second half of the year, but it wasnâ€™t just
tablets: according to senior practice director Jeff Orr, â€śDevice
categories including netbooks and mobile broadband-enabled eBook Readers
showed gains in year-over-year shipment numbers in 2010. The hype that
media tablets were displacing portable computers and dedicated CE device
purchases simply didnâ€™t become a reality.â€ť

Samsungâ€™s Galaxy Tab ranked a distant second to the iPad in market
share, with about 8%, while Archosâ€™s Internet Tablet range just barely
moved the needle at 2%. These top three vendors accounted for 95% of the
media tablet market between them.

However that breakdown isnâ€™t carved in stone; Orr says, â€śMany new
entrants are looking to differentiate themselves from the $600+ ASP of
the iPad, so low-feature and low-cost designs will become common. We
expect between 40 and 50 million media tablets to ship worldwide in
2011.â€ť

What of the more distant future? There are some scenarios suggesting a
possible leveling-off of media tablet demand around 2015-2016, but
market and economic variables will multiply with each passing year.
â€śWith increasing choices for consumers and greater opportunities for
businesses to consider ultra-mobile devices, we expect multiple device
categories to benefit in the near-term,â€ť adds Orr.

ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of
trends in global connectivity and other emerging technologies. From
offices in North America, Europe and Asia, ABI Researchâ€™s worldwide team
of experts advises thousands of decision makers through 30+ research and
advisory services. Est. 1990. For more information visit
www.abiresearch.com,
or call +1.516.624.2500.